Staff Selection Commission — Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination
The Class 12-level SSC exam for clerical and data-entry posts in central government offices.
SSC CHSL is live on Kitabey for institutes — coaching centres can run SSC CHSL-pattern tests for their students using their own questions or an uploaded PDF. Kitabey's own SSC CHSL question bank is still being built, so self-serve practice and mock tests for students will open up as it grows.
SSC CHSL recruits Class 12 pass candidates for clerical and data-entry roles in central government offices. Tier-I is a computer-based qualifying test; Tier-II decides merit.
The Tier-I paper mirrors SSC CGL in structure — four equally weighted sections — but is pitched at a 10+2 level.
| Stage covered | Tier-I — computer-based, qualifying (Tier-II decides merit) |
| Duration | 60 minutes (80 minutes for candidates using a scribe) |
| Sections | General Intelligence, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language — 25 questions each |
| Total questions | 100 questions, 200 marks — single-correct MCQs with 4 options |
| Sectional timing | 15 minutes per section, as per the 2026 notification |
| Medium | English, Hindi and SSC's regional-language mediums; the English section is set in English only |
Marking scheme
Correct
+2 for every correct answer
Incorrect
−0.5 for every incorrect answer
The 2026 notification introduces a fixed 15-minute window for each Tier-I section, so pacing has to be managed section by section.
CHSL rewards clean fundamentals — arithmetic, grammar rules and standard reasoning types. Get accuracy first, then work on speed.
Practise 25-question, 15-minute section sets so the fixed sectional windows feel routine on exam day.
With −0.5 per wrong answer, random guessing lowers your expected score. Attempt only what you can narrow down.
Keep a short daily routine for static GK and current affairs instead of leaving General Awareness to the end.
What's live today for SSC CHSL, and what's coming next.
Note: This guide covers the evergreen pattern, syllabus, and preparation framework. Registration dates, exam dates, and category-wise cutoffs change every cycle — always verify the latest details on the official Staff Selection Commission (SSC) notification before you act on timelines.